Separation of metal ions by functionalized soluble polymers using membrane filtration has been investigated. Actinide elements and members from the transition groups and rare earth elements have been bound to polymeric chelatogenes as a function of pH. Sixteen different polymers and derivatives based on poly(ethylenimine), poly(vinylalcohol), poly(urethane), and poly(acrylic acid) have been studied in terms of their capacity and selectivity. Binding studies and cleavage experiments have been carried out by application of membrane filtration for several metals and polychetatogenes. Finally, the stability of polymers and membranes has been studied and found to be sufficient for selective separation of actinide ions.

Synthesis and application of several polymeric agents based on poly(vinylalcoho1) with phosphorus containing functional groups were investigated. Monomer and polymer syntheses of phosphoric acid and derivatives with poly(vinylalcoho1) are described. Multifunctional derivatives of the hydrophilic polymer were obtained by polymer-analogous reactions with mono and diethyl esters of phosphoric acid. Studies on chelating properties of the polychelatogenes at different pH values for nickel were carried out by means of membrane filtration. Metal determination in filtrate and retentate yielded typical chelating curves. Differences of the polymer supports and influences of the functional groups are discussed. ZUSAMMENFASSUNG:Die Synthese und Anwendung von mehreren polymeren Agentien auf der Basis von Poly(vinylalkohol), die funktionelle Gruppen mit Phosphor enthalten, wurde untersucht. Die Monomer-und Polymersynthese von Phosphorsaure und ihrer Derivate mit Poly(vinylalkoho1) werden beschrieben. Durch polymeranaloge Reaktionen mit Mono-und Diethylestern der Phosphorsaure wurden multifunktionelle Derivate dieses hydrophilen Polymers erhalten. Untersuchungen m den Komplexbildungseigenschaften der Polychelatogene wurden mit Hilfe der Membranfiltration fur Nickel bei verschiedenen pH-Werten durchgefuhrt. Typische Komplexierungskurven wurden nach Bestimmung des Metallgehalts im Filtrat und Retentat erhalten. Unterschiede der polymeren Trager und Einfliisse der funktionellen Gruppen werden diskutiert.

Polyurethanes 6 and 7 based on poly(oxyethy1ene) (5) were synthesized and investigated for the application as macromolecular chelating agents. 4,4'-Diaminobenzil(3c) and 4,4'-diadnobenzil monoxime (4a) were prepared as monomer precursors in 70 and 80% yield. Copolymers were obtained in yields between 40 and 60% by polyaddition of the corresponding diisocyanates 3d and 4b to poly(oxyethy1ene) (5) of different chain length and characterized by IR and 13C NMR spectroscopy. The application of the resulting polyurethanes containing functional aromatic block units as polychelatogenes was studied in homogeneous phase by membrane filtration. The metal content was determined in both the filtrate and the retentate and in the case of Ni2+ at different pH values. At pH 2, for example, the molar binding capacity of a polyurethane sample of 6 was 3 times as high as that of 5.